Two years later Everything that binds us: confidence for confidence (Albin Michel), Sophie Davant publishes a new work. With What a joy to grow old!, published by Solar, she addresses the issue of age through various themes (the body, food, beauty, love, transmission, spirituality, etc.) while including the perspective of experts on the subject. . At 60 years old, the host shares her experience and her advice, without ever losing real sincerity. Alongside this publication, Sophie Davant made her debut on Europe 1 at the start of the school year with “Sophie & les amis”. She is also preparing to soon launch a new animal magazine on France 3. In short, the one who encourages reinventing oneself is starting a new season which is not short of challenges.
Was this joy of growing old obvious or can it be learned?
It is the result of a life path, of a sum of experiences. As we get older, we learn to put things into perspective. We know ourselves better and we are more accepting of the present moment. The purpose of this book is to say that, already, it is a chance to be here, to be in good shape, and that this chance must be savored. There is a way to not suffer from growing old and make it a nice and happy time.
Is it easy to grow old on air?
No, it’s not for a woman. At the same time, it requires you, out of respect for the viewers, to present yourself in the best light. It requires you to be physically fit, look your best and take care of yourself. It is not easy. I feel like I’m a bit of a standard bearer for women of my generation. You can get older and still be desired professionally, you can still take on new challenges, you can still feel alive and active in your life. We can act and not suffer this aging.
In your book, you insist on the fact that “ pass fifty, we are not out of date ». Is this something you were told or made to understand?
No. I am lucky enough to have had two daily broadcasts on the air for thirty-five years, so no, it was never made clear to me. And it was me who made the decision to try the experience on the radio and therefore to stop the daily show that I was presenting. This does not mean that I will no longer be on the air since I continue to work with France Télévisions. So no, I’ve never been made to feel it but, when you look objectively at the audiovisual landscape, there aren’t many women of my generation on the air so it’s still an area to conquer. There are journalists who are still active and who have called on them for their expertise and experience – Anne Sinclair, Christine Ockrent, Michèle Cotta – but as far as presenters are concerned, there are not many.
What a joy to grow old! covers various themes (the body, food, love, sexuality, transmission) that you approach with great sincerity. Is this what best defines your connection with the public?
I’ve always been like that and that’s how a bond is formed. There is a kind of proximity. This is also explained by the programs that I presented, whether it was a morning program where I entered homes every day at 10 a.m. (“It’s on the program”) or the programs on intimacy, when I took over from Jean-Luc Delarue (“Quite a story”). Anonymous people came to confide so it always seemed logical to me to do so in turn. I like to use my experience to give keys to others, to readers or viewers. It’s a bit of what has guided my entire career. Not all the shows I did were purely free, purely entertainment. Each time, there was a search for content that could represent meaning for those watching.
Is there a paradox between accepting aging and resorting to cosmetic medicine and surgery, a subject that you discuss with great honesty?
No, there isn’t, as long as you know why you’re doing it, don’t abuse it and don’t become someone else. It’s not a question of looking like a young woman of 20, or of being twenty years younger, but of finding the right answers to the little problems we have. This doesn’t mean erasing wrinkles and having an expressionless face, I’m against it. Just like I am against the escalation of cosmetic surgery. On the other hand, if you are bothered by an unsightly wrinkle, if you want to look good, or stimulate the skin in depth, there are lots of tools in aesthetic medicine today that are easily accessible. So my idea is to say: let’s find the right answers in order to please ourselves above all, and thus please others.
You made your debut on Europe 1 at the start of the school year and you will soon present a new meeting on France 3. In your book, you talk about allowing yourself new beginnings. Is it in this state of mind that you accepted these new missions?
Yes. The idea above all is to escape boredom and routine. Deciding to abandon a show which has real audience success is not easy but I felt that after six years, I had brought what I could bring to this program and that I had want to challenge myself on another exercise. I find that it is by taking on challenges that we feel alive.
In “ Deal done », you wanted to pass the baton on the air to Julia Vignali. Was it out of a desire to do things well?
Absolutely. I was the one who suggested it. I was keen to explain my decision to viewers. I wanted Julia Vignali to feel as good as possible to take over. I like this state of mind which, I find, is lacking in this audiovisual environment, this transmission, this sorority, there is no competition. For the show, it’s an opportunity for a new lease of life, a new rhythm, a new tone and that’s perhaps not bad after six years of existence.
You have been hosting “Sophie and the Friends” on Europe 1 since the start of the school year. What is your assessment one month after joining this station?
I found what I really liked when I presented “It’s on the program”, that is to say the mixture of genres. There is humor with a group around me, general culture and, every day, I receive a guest from a different universe so it is an interesting exercise to find the right rhythm and the right mix between all these ingredients, and that’s my job.
What can you tell us about the animal magazine that you will soon present on France 3?
It is a magazine serving viewers, to provide information and advice to the many people who have a pet. I will be surrounded by a group, with specialists (veterinarian, behaviorist, etc.). It will be a mood magazine. We are going to tell a lot of stories, there will be reports, extraordinary stories about the bond between animals and human beings. There will also be a lot of humor with, for example, images that can be found on Instagram of pets who have their publications.
This is the first time in almost thirty-five years that you have not presented a daily program on television. Do you miss it?
Honestly, grieving the loss of “A Deal” was complicated. When you make a decision like that, you don’t know right away if you were right or not. So now, things are better, I am more at peace with myself, I am enjoying the new exercise of radio. Do I miss not showing up on TV every day? No, I do not think so. It’s not easy either, it’s extremely demanding to be filmed from all angles on a daily basis. There, I find freedom in the way I dress and do my hair. I’m less polished and I admit that that relieves me a little. But I would enjoy working again with my hairdresser, my makeup artist or my dresser for my new show.